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I don't live in Tucson, but my wife grew up there and I'd also love to see more on SE. There's so much great Mexican food there. My favorite is Micha's. I could eat an echilada style machaca burro every day of my life. Whare are some of your favorite spots, @missvenuz?

Thanks @capndesign and @radish for responding - I'm sorry it took so long, I had back surgery on Wednesday and I can't sit at my computer very long.

Anyway, for both of you, I do have some recommendations.

- MUST GET a Sonoran Hot Dog. El Guero Canelo or BK's - that's the debate here, anyway. Both are south side institutions.

- Yamato Japanese restaurant is my favorite place to get sushi here. He's the only Japanese sushi chef in town - the ambiance is warm and friendly, as the chef's son and wife both work the front of the house. It's a little hole in the wall, but the quality of the fish is worth it.

- I love Mariscos Chihuahua for Mexican-style seafood. The ceviches are amazing, but my favorite is the garlic shrimp. There are a few locations around Tucson, but they only take cash.

- The Mexican restaurant that I take my out of town guests to when they crave real Sonoran food is Molina's Midway. Been here for over 50 years (when it used to be a drive in!!) and still owned by the same family, it more than passes my test for a good Mexican restaurant - blow-your-mind beans. Very reasonable, too.

- Anything down S. Park or S. 4th Avenue (south of 22nd St.) for Mexican food. Not exactly the best area of town (go during daylight hours), but there are plenty of amazing restaurants and tortillerias.

- The Silver Saddle Steakhouse is great - they have an open woodfire pit where your lovely slabs of flesh are prepared. A great, old west feel with friendly service and just great meat. The wood smoke truly enhances the meat. A little hard to find, but worth the effort.

- The Tucson Chinese Cultural Center on the NW side has food festivals throughout the year. I just missed their dumpling festival *damn*.

- I love going to Neo of Melaka on the NW side for tasty Malay/Indonesian/Asian fusion. The satay and nasi goreng are to die for, and the happy hour specials are great.

- For a great, and I mean GREAT, sandwich, go to Beyond Bread. Your $6-8 sandwich will be enough for 2 meals. And don't forget to buy a loaf to take with you.

- For breakfasts, Bobo's has great, gigantic pancakes. Blue Willow has a lovely patio for people watching, and their food is light and healthy, but tasty. The Cup Cafe in the legendary Hotel Congress (great to go to just for the history!) serves a mean breakfast as well. Robert's Restaurant on Grant is definitely a local's place - owned by a former cop, the food is simple, cheap, and very homey.

- If it's 3am, you're not quite sober, and you need something great to fill you up, you have your choice of many 24/7 taquerias. My favorite is Nico's on Campbell and Ft. Lowell - it's so good, I'll go there sober! Definitely passes my bean test, as I send frozen pints of their beans to my friends abroad.

- Barrio Brewing Company, hidden in the Lost Barrio/Warehouse district south of the U of A, is a great bar/microbrewery.

- Kon Tiki, a straight-out-of-the-60's Polynesian bar, serves amazing tiki drinks for reasonable prices. They use Cruzan rum and other better-than-well products. No drink ends up being more than $7, and that $7 Scorpion is served to you in a fish bowl. Can't go wrong there.

- For vegetarians, Lovin' Spoonfuls on Campbell is very, very good.

- That said, a lot of my favorite high end dining places have closed, such as Cafe Terra Cotta. *sniffle*

WHERE TO AVIOD:

- El Charro Cafe. Tourist trap. I mean, yes, they *did* invent the chimichanga and they are the oldest family run Mexican restaurant in the US, but I find their food expensive and run-of-the-mill.

- Cafe Poca Cosa: Their menu is set and they typically won't accompany for food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

- Most BBQ places here are not so great.

- Most places in the immediate vicinity of the University of Arizona. A lot of mediocre chain restaurants, as to be expected, and the bars in the area cater to the drunken Greeks. A few exceptions: Saigon Pho (Vietnamese) and Sultan's Palace (Afghani) on University Blvd. The parking can be a huge mess, however. I recommend going after 5pm - the lots (NOT GARAGES) in the area are free after that time during the weekdays.

Well, I hope that helps @radish. As I have mentioned on previous posts here on SE, I moved here from LA and honestly, I haven't looked back. I really love the food scene here, and am constantly amazed at what I find when I'm not looking. Please keep posting!!!

Haha my dad keeps bugging me about the Sonoran hot dog, but I've so far resisted since I have an extreme aversion to mayonnaise...he keeps trying to wear me down though. Maybe I'll order it without, if it's worth it!

And I agree: Mariscos Chihuahua is awesome! I've enjoyed the garlic shrimp there for sure. I thought I spied a location up here, but I may have been hallucinating.

I've eaten at Poca Cosa a few times and have never been disappointed, although I never have to deal with food allergies, etc. I usually order the chef's sampler (which I think can feature items not on the menu) and enjoy all the dishes. Except the tamale pie, which is too sweet for me (just a personal thing). But that's okay, I just make sure to tuck it in a box of someone else's leftovers.

Thanks for the tips, I'll be sure to keep these in mind!